World Health Statistics reports on global
health goals for 194 countries
News release
13 MAY 2015 | GENEVA - 2015 is the final year for the
United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
– goals set by governments in 2000 to guide global
efforts to end poverty. This year’s " World Health
Statistics " – published today by WHO – assesses
progress towards the health-related goals in each of the
194 countries for which data are available. The results
are mixed.
By the end of this year if current trends continue, the
world will have met global targets for turning around the
epidemics of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis and
increasing access to safe drinking water. It will also
have made substantial progress in reducing child
undernutrition, maternal and child deaths, and
increasing access to basic sanitation.
“The MDGs have been good for public health. They have
focused political attention and generated badly needed
funds for many important public health challenges,”
says Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.
“While progress has been very encouraging, there are
still wide gaps between and within countries. Today’s
report underscores the need to sustain efforts to ensure
the world’s most vulnerable people have access to
health services.”
Child deaths halved, but won’t reach target
Progress in child survival worldwide is one of the
greatest success stories of international development.
Since 1990, child deaths have almost halved – falling
from an estimated 90 deaths per 1000 live births to 46
deaths per 1000 live births in 2013.
Despite great advances, this is not enough to reach the
goal of reducing the death rate by two-thirds. Less than
one third of all countries have achieved or are on track
to meet this target by the end of this year. The top
killers of children aged less than 5 years are now:
preterm birth complications, pneumonia, birth asphyxia
and diarrhoea.
Saving more mothers
The number of women who died due to complications
during pregnancy and childbirth has almost halved
between 1990 and 2013. This rate of decrease won’t be
enough to achieve the targeted reduction of 75% by the
end of this year.
The maternal mortality ratio has fallen in every region.
However, 13 countries with some of the world’s highest
rates have made little progress in reducing these largely
preventable deaths.
In the WHO African Region, 1 in 4 women who wants to
prevent or delay childbearing does not have access to
contraceptives, and only 1 in 2 women gives birth with
the support of a skilled birth attendant. Less than two-
thirds (64%) of women worldwide receive the
recommended minimum of 4 antenatal care visits
during pregnancy.
Reversing the spread of HIV
The world has begun to reverse the spread of HIV, with
new infections reported in 2013 of 2.1 million people,
down from 3.4 million in 2001.
The revised target of achieving universal access to
treatment for HIV will be more challenging as WHO’s
recommendations have resulted in much higher
numbers of people needing treatment. At current trends,
the world will exceed the target of placing 15 million
people in low- and middle-income countries on
antiretroviral therapy (ARTs) in 2015. By the end of
2013, almost 13 million people received ARTs globally.
Of these, 11.7 million lived in low- and middle-income
countries, representing 37% of people living with HIV in
those countries.
Increasing access to safe drinking water and sanitation
While the global target for increasing access to safe
drinking water was met in 2010, the WHO African and
Eastern Mediterranean Regions fall far short,
particularly for poor people and those living in rural
areas.
The world is unlikely to meet the MDG target on access
to basic sanitation. Around 1 billion people have no
access to basic sanitation and are forced to defecate in
open spaces such as fields and near water sources.
Lack of sanitation facilities puts these people at high
risk of diarrhoeal diseases (including cholera), trachoma
and hepatitis.
Beyond 2015
In September, countries will decide on new and
ambitious global goals for 2030 at the United Nations
General Assembly in New York. In addition to finishing
the MDG agenda, the post-2015 agenda needs to tackle
emerging challenges including the growing impact of
noncommunicable diseases, like diabetes and heart
disease, and the changing social and environmental
determinants that affect health.
The draft post-2015 agenda proposes 17 goals,
including an overarching health goal to “ensure healthy
lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.
Key facts from World Health Statistics 2015
Life expectancy at birth has increased 6 years for
both men and women since 1990.
Two-thirds of deaths worldwide are due to
noncommunicable diseases.
In some countries, more than one-third of births are
delivered by caesarean section.
In low- and middle-income countries, only two-thirds
of pregnant women with HIV receive antiretrovirals
to prevent transmission to their baby.
Over one-third of adult men smoke tobacco.
Only 1 in 3 African children with suspected
pneumonia receives antibiotics.
15% of women worldwide are obese.
The median age of people living in low-income
countries is 20 years, while it is 40 years in high-
income countries.
One quarter of men have raised blood pressure.
In some countries, less than 5% of total government
expenditure is on health.
About WHO statistics
Published every year since 2005 by WHO, World Health
Statistics is the definitive source of information on the
health of the world’s people. It contains data from 194
countries on a range of mortality, disease and health
system indicators including life expectancy, illnesses
and deaths from key diseases, health services and
treatments, financial investment in health, as well as
risk factors and behaviours that affect health.
Access the 2015 report
Note to editors:
WHO’s Global Health Observatory provides updated
health statistics all year round. It has more detailed
information on more than 1000 health indicators,
ranging from mental health to air pollution. Users can
tailor their research by entering their own search terms
into the online database to find out the latest health
statistics in any country or to get a regional or global
snapshot.
WHO’s Global Health Observatory
For more information please contact:
Christian Lindmeier
Communications Officer, WHO
Mobile: +41 79 500 6552
E-mail: lindmeierc@who.int
health goals for 194 countries
News release
13 MAY 2015 | GENEVA - 2015 is the final year for the
United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
– goals set by governments in 2000 to guide global
efforts to end poverty. This year’s " World Health
Statistics " – published today by WHO – assesses
progress towards the health-related goals in each of the
194 countries for which data are available. The results
are mixed.
By the end of this year if current trends continue, the
world will have met global targets for turning around the
epidemics of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis and
increasing access to safe drinking water. It will also
have made substantial progress in reducing child
undernutrition, maternal and child deaths, and
increasing access to basic sanitation.
“The MDGs have been good for public health. They have
focused political attention and generated badly needed
funds for many important public health challenges,”
says Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.
“While progress has been very encouraging, there are
still wide gaps between and within countries. Today’s
report underscores the need to sustain efforts to ensure
the world’s most vulnerable people have access to
health services.”
Child deaths halved, but won’t reach target
Progress in child survival worldwide is one of the
greatest success stories of international development.
Since 1990, child deaths have almost halved – falling
from an estimated 90 deaths per 1000 live births to 46
deaths per 1000 live births in 2013.
Despite great advances, this is not enough to reach the
goal of reducing the death rate by two-thirds. Less than
one third of all countries have achieved or are on track
to meet this target by the end of this year. The top
killers of children aged less than 5 years are now:
preterm birth complications, pneumonia, birth asphyxia
and diarrhoea.
Saving more mothers
The number of women who died due to complications
during pregnancy and childbirth has almost halved
between 1990 and 2013. This rate of decrease won’t be
enough to achieve the targeted reduction of 75% by the
end of this year.
The maternal mortality ratio has fallen in every region.
However, 13 countries with some of the world’s highest
rates have made little progress in reducing these largely
preventable deaths.
In the WHO African Region, 1 in 4 women who wants to
prevent or delay childbearing does not have access to
contraceptives, and only 1 in 2 women gives birth with
the support of a skilled birth attendant. Less than two-
thirds (64%) of women worldwide receive the
recommended minimum of 4 antenatal care visits
during pregnancy.
Reversing the spread of HIV
The world has begun to reverse the spread of HIV, with
new infections reported in 2013 of 2.1 million people,
down from 3.4 million in 2001.
The revised target of achieving universal access to
treatment for HIV will be more challenging as WHO’s
recommendations have resulted in much higher
numbers of people needing treatment. At current trends,
the world will exceed the target of placing 15 million
people in low- and middle-income countries on
antiretroviral therapy (ARTs) in 2015. By the end of
2013, almost 13 million people received ARTs globally.
Of these, 11.7 million lived in low- and middle-income
countries, representing 37% of people living with HIV in
those countries.
Increasing access to safe drinking water and sanitation
While the global target for increasing access to safe
drinking water was met in 2010, the WHO African and
Eastern Mediterranean Regions fall far short,
particularly for poor people and those living in rural
areas.
The world is unlikely to meet the MDG target on access
to basic sanitation. Around 1 billion people have no
access to basic sanitation and are forced to defecate in
open spaces such as fields and near water sources.
Lack of sanitation facilities puts these people at high
risk of diarrhoeal diseases (including cholera), trachoma
and hepatitis.
Beyond 2015
In September, countries will decide on new and
ambitious global goals for 2030 at the United Nations
General Assembly in New York. In addition to finishing
the MDG agenda, the post-2015 agenda needs to tackle
emerging challenges including the growing impact of
noncommunicable diseases, like diabetes and heart
disease, and the changing social and environmental
determinants that affect health.
The draft post-2015 agenda proposes 17 goals,
including an overarching health goal to “ensure healthy
lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.
Key facts from World Health Statistics 2015
Life expectancy at birth has increased 6 years for
both men and women since 1990.
Two-thirds of deaths worldwide are due to
noncommunicable diseases.
In some countries, more than one-third of births are
delivered by caesarean section.
In low- and middle-income countries, only two-thirds
of pregnant women with HIV receive antiretrovirals
to prevent transmission to their baby.
Over one-third of adult men smoke tobacco.
Only 1 in 3 African children with suspected
pneumonia receives antibiotics.
15% of women worldwide are obese.
The median age of people living in low-income
countries is 20 years, while it is 40 years in high-
income countries.
One quarter of men have raised blood pressure.
In some countries, less than 5% of total government
expenditure is on health.
About WHO statistics
Published every year since 2005 by WHO, World Health
Statistics is the definitive source of information on the
health of the world’s people. It contains data from 194
countries on a range of mortality, disease and health
system indicators including life expectancy, illnesses
and deaths from key diseases, health services and
treatments, financial investment in health, as well as
risk factors and behaviours that affect health.
Access the 2015 report
Note to editors:
WHO’s Global Health Observatory provides updated
health statistics all year round. It has more detailed
information on more than 1000 health indicators,
ranging from mental health to air pollution. Users can
tailor their research by entering their own search terms
into the online database to find out the latest health
statistics in any country or to get a regional or global
snapshot.
WHO’s Global Health Observatory
For more information please contact:
Christian Lindmeier
Communications Officer, WHO
Mobile: +41 79 500 6552
E-mail: lindmeierc@who.int
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